using strips of coppper to deter slugs from young zinnias

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august2003 Beaverton, OR May 11, 2010

One of the forums showed an oriental poppy start surrounded by copper strips(about 1" wide). One individual plant was collared with 3 strips of copper overlapping. Question - this was different than the product you see sold in nurseries - as if it came from home improvement store. What really works? Does it matter that the copper tarnishes? Does it last forever or at least for many seasons. Could I encircle the perimiter of my zinnia bed with these rather than each plant? Deadline is the only product that really works well and I have a dog so can't use that safely. Sluggo very ineffective. Am growing Magellan coral Hybrid zinnia from seed - also Benaries Giant purple and envy. How expensive would this be? Thanks - last year I did use deadline out of desperation but couldn't let my dog in back yard and I love his company while I garden.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) May 11, 2010

Some info for you.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05515.html

http://www.pesticide.org/slugs.html

http://www.nimrodhall.com/?gclid=CLrg6K7DyqECFZFV2god-nAkhw (a company that sells copper foil rolls for price comp.)

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/nwest/msg0310282621897.html (anecdotal info)

http://www.asktheexterminator.com/garden_pests/Slug.shtml

http://www.recyclenow.org/less-toxic/SnailsSlugs.PDF

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) May 11, 2010

Copper works, doesn't matter whether it came from a home improvement store or the nursery as long as it has a high enough copper content (not mixed with other metals). I expect when it gets tarnished you will need to clean it off in order to be effective, but as long as you don't mind doing that bit of maintenance I expect it could last for years. As far as putting it all the way around your bed...that would work but only if you are 100% sure there are no slugs in the bed currently (otherwise you're trapping them in the bed!). And you'd have to make sure that there's no tall grass, overhanging leaves from another bed, etc hanging over that would allow them a bridge across the copper barrier and into the bed. It only works if they'd have to crawl across it to get to your plants.

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august2003 Beaverton, OR May 11, 2010

Thanks to all who have suggestions - I especially like the idea of bordering my garden with seaweed (not touching the stems of plants). I wonder if I can use the dried kind of seaweed they would have at a Japanese grocery store. It sounds like because the slugs in the PNW are so large the copper border would have to be about 3" wide at least and I have a large area - could get a little pricey. It would tarnish easily because of frequent rain. Anyone who has used it succesfully - I ask how often did u have to clean and with what? Has anyone tried the seaweed method mentioned in the link from themoonhowl ?

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